Fairbridge Training and PGL

Working with Difficult

Behaviour Training Case Study
April—July 2009

Thank you

We would like to thank PGL for allowing this case study to take place and
the those who participated in the training

For details about Fairbridge Training and the training

available please contact:
Fairbridge Training
207 Waterloo Road, London, SE1 8XD
Tel: 020 7199 6030 Email: info@fairbridgetraining.co.uk
Web: www.fairbridgetraining.co.uk

Fairbridge Training
207 Waterloo Road, London, SE1 8XD
Tel: 020 7199 6030 Email: info@fairbridgetraining.co.uk
Web: www.fairbridgetraining.co.uk
Introduction:
PGL is the UK’s leading provider of school trips and educational tours – offering outdoor
adventure courses, subject specific courses, overseas tours and ski trips. They also operate
summer camps, children’s adventure holidays and family activity holidays in the UK and
Europe.

One of the programmes they run is Do It For Real (DI4R), a summer camp for young people
aged 10-19, owned and operated by the YHA through partner organisations such as PGL.
DI4R is now a regular programme for us. In the first year of delivering it we noticed a
significant increase in the number of incidents involving challenging behaviour that staff
were having to deal with. In some cases this turned into an unproductive experience for the
young people involved and also the staff. I wanted staff to take part in more in depth training
on working with young people and developing their confidence, understanding and skills to
work with challenging behaviour. We wanted to make sure that staff and young people fully
engage and take part in the DI4R programme.”

“I have been aware of Fairbridge for a long time and the work they do with young people and
had attended a one day workshop on dealing with challenging behaviour delivered by
Fairbridge. This combination of experience of working with young people and delivering
training made Fairbridge Training the obvious partner to provide a series of relevant and
meaningful training interventions.

Giles Smith, Training Programme Manager for PGL

Training Delivery:
Once PGL and Fairbridge Training began working together, the following training priorities
were identified:
Understanding what drives behaviours
Developing strategies to work with difficult and challenging behaviours
Increasing staff’s range of techniques to respond to difficult and challenging situations

Working closely together, Fairbridge Training and PGL initially decided to deliver training in
the following centres:
• Osmington Bay
• Winmarleigh Hall
• Boreatton Park
• Little Canada

The training was primarily based on the Fairbridge Training “Working with Difficult Behaviour”
programme. Following feedback from these first courses, the training was further developed
to reflect the needs of the practitioners. Some of the early feedback responded to included:
• Spending more time on scenarios that are more typical within PGL centres
• The training did not specifically suit the clients that PGL work with
• The training was not as useful for more experienced staff

Fairbridge has worked with vulnerable young people for 25 years. During this time they
have engaged challenging young people in the learning and development process.
Fairbridge recognises outdoor learning as a key factor supporting young people and moving
them forward. As a trainer at Fairbridge Training I know that this experience is the
foundation to our delivery and sharing this is what we do. This made us a perfect partner
for PGL.”

“PGL has a different client group to Fairbridge. When I deliver Fairbridge Training
programmes it’s normally to individuals who work with young people on a basis similar to
those who attend Fairbridge. This presented a bit of a problem because not all of our
training is relevant to PGL staff. After we had delivered the first training days we realised
that we needed to make changes to the training so it worked for the staff.

Ruth Bradbrook, lead Fairbridge Training Trainer for the project

Impact:
Following the feedback from the initial training the following changes were made:
• A separate Senior Practitioner day was written for more advanced, experienced staff who lead
the DI4R programme
• Fairbridge Training found out what scenarios are more typical in PGL centres (for example,
issues arising during activity session time when there is only one instructor present, or issues
arising when young people are not directly supervised e.g. in dormitories, unstructured
time)and included strategies to overcome these situations
• The training was changed to be more applicable to the young people PGL work with
• More emphasis was placed on the tools PGL staff could use at the start of programmes e.g.
contract building

The training took place between April and July 2009. Fairbridge Training and PGL worked closely together
to design and deliver training that:
• Met the requirements of the organisation
• Would be positively received by staff
• Would build on prior knowledge gained from PGL’s in-house training and previous experience
of working with young people
• Could be implemented in practice
• Made a difference to staff

I was able to use many of the tools given to us by Fairbridge to cascade knowledge to my staff. To
me this was the most important part of the training. We now use a 3hr training seminar to give our staff
some ideas and support. It helps when we are all singing from the same songsheet! The training was a
good experience to reinforce knowledge from past workplaces and to give
confidence to train and support my own staff.

Carl Tinkler ,Chief Instructor Osmington Bay Centre

Very worthwhile training course for all team members involved in the pastoral care of our guests.
Allowed a more professional and confident approach to managing challenging behaviour, giving a
consistent approach on centre

Scott Burgess, Centre Operations Manager Winmarleigh Hall

Results:
Fairbridge Training delivery has meant that:
• During the DI4R programme more structured free time was built in for the young people
• More Senior Practitioners were on hand to take care of challenging behaviours
• A positive environment was created on the DI4R programme

This training experience has been really positive for PGL. Fairbridge Training have been easy to work
with and very responsive to our needs. There has been a significant drop in incidents involving
challenging behaviour as a result of the training and we would like to do further training to continue this
work and improve the DI4R programme. Ultimately, enhancing the experience of young people and staff
alike

Giles Smith, PGL